D.L. Hughley became the topic of discussion on social media yesterday for controversial and offensive comments he made in regards to domestic violence — and more specifically, the latest scandal involving Columbus Short and his estranged wife Tanee McCall-Short.

In a recent radio broadcast on The D.L. Hughley Show, the former actor talked about Short’s domestic dispute with his spouse, which court documents say involved Short making explicitly violent threats and actions against McCall-Short — while even repeatedly choking his wife as she slept and placing a knife to her throat.

Just days later, Hughley addressed this matter on his radio show and came to Short’s defense. In doing so, his controversial and insensitive remarks painted McCall-Short in a negative light when she, in fact, was the unfortunate victim in the alleged dispute.

The star of one of the hottest dramas in the country, chokes the f*ck out of his wife? That doesn’t ever happen. I don’t think it happened first off. Like the time Warren Sapp was getting ready to do the Super Bowl and some broad said that he raped her. There are just as many examples of women lying on men in the middle of divorce proceedings to get what they want as there are men who actually do anything. My point is if he did what she’s alleging he did, she could still get all that she’s going to have and not bring it up now when it damages his market value that she’s going to be impacted by. If he loses that job nobody’s living in Calabasas anymore.”

“I guarantee you, three years from now she’s going to be thinking, ‘Damn, I should have shut the f*ck up … women always running out the mouth when they shouldn’t.’ This b*tch was thirsty. The b*tch was thirsty. What, she gone go back to dancing? She gone f*ck her money up?”

Hughley’s comments incited much criticism online as disgraced readers and listeners painted his comments as ignorant and foul. A petition was even launched on Change.org calling on Hughley to publicly apologize for “endangering the lives of Black women who may be victims of domestic violence by encouraging them to remain silent.”

In response, Hughley held an on-air conversation to clarify his statements. He also issued a statement of apology, which read:

“In regards to Columbus Short’s legal issues, I jumped to a conclusion and blamed Tanee McCall-Short; and I’m sorry. My intent was not to quiet victims.When I did speak of the topic on air, I repeatedly emphasized then, and as I do now, that anyone who is convicted of domestic violence, should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law; and that is what I believe.”